Generated Summary
This report presents a global assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock production systems and supply chains. It employs a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, coupled with statistical analysis and scenario building, to estimate the sector’s mitigation potential and identify concrete options for emission reduction. The study examines various livestock production systems across different regions and explores the environmental implications of production practices for the main commodities. The report emphasizes the crucial role of the livestock sector in contributing to climate change, with a focus on the major emission sources and pathways, and highlights the potential for significant emission reductions through the adoption of efficient technologies and practices. The assessment also investigates the economic and social implications of mitigation strategies, emphasizing the need for policy support and stakeholder collaboration to achieve sustainable livestock production.
Key Findings & Statistics
- Total GHG emissions from livestock supply chains are estimated at 7.1 gigatonnes CO2-eq per annum, representing 14.5 percent of all human-induced emissions.
- Beef and cattle milk production account for the majority of emissions, contributing 41 and 20 percent of the sector’s emissions, respectively.
- Feed production and processing, and enteric fermentation from ruminants are the two main sources of emissions, representing 45 and 39 percent of sector emissions, respectively.
- The consumption of fossil fuel along the sector supply chains accounts for about 20 percent of sector emissions.
- A 30 percent reduction of GHG emissions would be possible, if producers in a given system, region and climate adopted the technologies and practice currently used by the 10 percent of producers with the lowest emission intensity.
- With emissions along livestock supply chains estimated at 7.1 gigatonnes CO2-eq per annum, representing 14.5 percent of all human-induced emissions, the livestock sector plays an important role in climate change.
- Enteric fermentation from cattle accounts for about 46 percent of total GHG emissions.
- Beef production accounts for approximately 41 percent of sector emissions, with average emission intensities of 67.8 kg CO2-eq/kg of carcass weight.
- Dairy cattle production accounts for approximately 20 percent of sector emissions, with average emission intensities of 2.8 kg CO2-eq per kg of fat and protein corrected milk.
- Pork production accounts for approximately 9 percent of sector emissions, with an average emission intensity of 6.1 kg CO2-eq/kg CW (carcass weight).
- The mitigation potential can be achieved within existing systems; the emissions could be reduced by between 18 and 30 percent (or 1.8 to 1.1 gigatonnes CO2-eq), if producers in a given system, region and climate adopted the practices currently applied by the 10 to 25 percent of producers with the lowest emission intensity.
- The South American specialized beef sector emits about 1 billion tonnes CO2-eq of GHG per year contributing 54 percent to emissions from global specialized beef production and 15 percent to emissions from the entire global livestock sector.
- With feasible improvements in manure management and the adoption of more efficient technologies and low carbon energy, emissions in industrial systems could be reduced by 16 to 25 percent of baseline emissions, i.e. 21 to 33 million tonnes CO2-eq.
Other Important Findings
- The report highlights that improving animal productivity and efficiency through better feed quality, animal health, and herd management practices is crucial for reducing emissions.
- The report underscores the importance of reducing land-use change, particularly in Latin America, to lower the sector’s environmental impact.
- It finds that emission intensities vary greatly among producers, even within similar production systems, highlighting opportunities for targeted mitigation strategies.
- The report emphasizes the need for collaboration among various stakeholders, including producers, policymakers, researchers, and civil society representatives, to implement effective mitigation strategies.
- The study suggests that carbon sequestration in grasslands, through improved grazing management, offers significant potential for mitigating emissions.
- The major mitigation potential lies in ruminant systems operating at low productivity.
- The adoption of more efficient technologies and practices is key to reducing emissions, and most of the technologies and practices that mitigate emissions also improve productivity and can contribute to food security and poverty alleviation.
- In South Asia mixed dairy farming systems, GHG emissions can potentially be reduced by 38 percent of the baseline emission with feasible improvements in feed quality, animal health and husbandry.
- In industrial pig production systems in East and Southeast Asia, emissions could be reduced by 16 to 25 percent of baseline emissions with feasible improvements in manure management and the adoption of energy saving technologies and low carbon energy.
- In the West African small ruminant sector, emissions can potentially be reduced by 27 to 41 percent of total annual baseline emissions with feasible improvements in forage digestibility, animal health, husbandry and breeding, and grazing management.
- In dairy mixed systems in OECD countries, emissions could be reduced by 14 to 17 percent of the baseline GHG emissions with feasible adoption of improved manure management systems, feed supplementation and energy saving equipment.
- With feasible improvements in forage quality, animal health and husbandry and carbon sequestration, emissions could be reduced by 18 to 29 percent of baseline emissions, or 190 to 310 million tonnes CO2 eq.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The study acknowledges the limitations of its statistical analysis, particularly regarding policy context, availability of resources, and the potential for feedback effects within the sector.
- The report acknowledges that results are not definitive due to the complexity of the analysis.
- The study does not include the potential of reduced consumption of livestock products as a mitigation strategy.
- The study’s estimates are based on assumptions, and the results should be interpreted as an order of magnitude, and the potential to reduce grazing and meat emissions is limited.
- The analysis excludes post-farm emissions and emission related to pasture expansion.
- There is a lack of global databases and models to estimate changes in soil carbon stocks under constant land-use management practices.
- The study acknowledges the challenges in measuring carbon sequestration accurately and the risks of non-permanence.
Conclusion
The report emphasizes that the livestock sector has a significant role in contributing to climate change but also possesses the potential to significantly reduce its emissions. The study highlights that this can be achieved by adopting more efficient technologies and practices. The research underscores the importance of integrated strategies that address both environmental and development objectives. Key areas of focus include improving feed quality, animal health, herd management, and reducing land-use change. Furthermore, the report highlights the need for supportive policies and incentives. The analysis underscores the importance of focusing on the most emission-intensive regions and systems. It indicates that the reduction of emissions should be prioritized in sectors and regions where emission levels and emission intensities are the highest, and is mostly in the ruminant sector. To ensure the effectiveness of the mitigation policies, the report advocates for strong international cooperation and the involvement of all stakeholders. It also calls for further research and development to improve measurement methodologies and develop new technologies. The adoption of these strategies and policies will be crucial not only for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but also for enhancing the efficiency of the sector and promoting sustainable development and food security.
IFFS Team Summary
- http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197623/icode/
- Most recent UNEP document concludes that GHG emissions from livestock is 14.5% of the global total
- Total emissions from global livestock: 7.1 Gigatonnes of Co2-equiv per yearC
- Cattle for beef and milk make up the most emissions
- Methane is the major cause, followed by CO2, and then NO2
- feed supply is the major cause from monogastrics
- fossil fuels also play a role
- Criticisms of the document from Additional Notes from Cowspiracy Facts Section
- http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts
- deforestation impact was mainly considered in four major countries in Latin America
- rest of LA and world was not counted due to lack of data/evidence (see P 9)
- Other docs such as UNEP State of Biodiversity in Africa state agriculture has an impact on deforestation
- the lead authors are work in livestock area of UNFAO, so may be biased
- indeed they do not mention reduction of animal products, mainly advocate for increased efficiency as solution
- global warming potential of Methane was over 100 years, while critics feel it should be over 20 years
- GHG from fish industry not even considered
- do not look at other profound impacts of livestock